RALEIGH — Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican challenger Thom Tillis say they want multiple debates in their North Carolina race. Exactly how many they’ll appear in is uncertain this early in the campaign.

The Tillis and Hagan campaigns put out separate emails Thursday saying each is prepared to participate in a debate held by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation. The group held two for the 2012 governor’s race.

Hagan’s campaign released a letter addressed to Tillis saying she also wants to set a public debate schedule with the House speaker.

Tillis responded with his own challenge of no fewer than 10 debates, spread throughout the state. Tillis wrote to Hagan that he’s accepted debate invitations from the North Carolina Bankers Association and the North Carolina Medical Society.